What happened? Shares of Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM), which boasts more than 44,000 restaurants in 135 countries with brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, jumped 7% Wednesday as of 10:45 a.m. EDT after management released solid third-quarter results. So what Starting from the top, total revenues declined 5% to $1.44 billion but managed to top analysts' estimates calling for $1.39 billion. Third-quarter earnings per share checked in at $1.18, a 115% increase over the prior year, but adjusted for one-time items was a more modest 22% gain to $0.68 earnings per share -- still a strong result and ahead of analysts' calling for $0.67 earnings per share. Putting the financials aside, some investors could be taking a sigh of relief after management said Pizza Hut saw no negative impacts from the NFL protests that Papa John's (NASDAQ: PZZA) had blamed for slightly weaker sales earlier this week. "...As we celebrate both our 1st anniversary from the spinoff of Yum China and our 20th anniversary as an independent company, I am proud of our accomplishments. I'm especially proud of our ability to leverage our culture to rapidly transform to a more focused, more franchised and more efficient company which delivers more growth to our shareholders," said Greg Creed, Yum! Brands' CEO, in a press release. Image source: Getty Images. Now what Management also noted the company was still on pace to reach its multiyear goals that include switching to a 98% franchisee ownership in 2018, reducing costs, and improving its U.S. same-store sales by boosting online sales, among other targets. If the company can continue executing on its multiyear strategy as it has recently, expect more solid quarters from Yum! Brands. 10 stocks we like better than Yum! BrandsWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Yum! Brands wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of October 9, 2017Daniel Miller has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.